Twists and turns keep you paddling on Turkey Creek

**Walton Outdoors** · 06-02-2009, 11:16 AM

Swift and clear, Turkey Creek brings lots of paddling action. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

Turkey Creek paddle full of beautiful surprises

Located on Eglin AFB Reservation, just off of SR 85, the Turkey Creek paddle is approximately 9 miles long.
Swift and clear, the first two thirds of the paddle is tight, as the creek is only about 25 ft. wide, full of logs and sandy, shallow bottoms. Trees hang over the water, providing good shade and cool water for the journey.
About 5 miles into the paddle, Turkey Creek joins with Juniper Creek where it widens, and eventually empties into Boggy Bayou in Valparaiso, just west of Niceville.

Floating through the tunnel on Turkey Creek. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

This paddle will bring also bring you under a few bridges and a double tunnel that at one time supported railway tracks. There is a bit of a rapid as the creek forces into the narrow tunnels, providing a fun place to stop, get out and float through.
Before you get to Boggy Bayou, you will pass through the Turkey Creek Recreation area. There are several swimming spots used by locals in this area cooling off on a warm day.
Paddling Turkey Creek requires a permit from Eglin AFB. You can acquire one by calling the Jackson Guard Natural Resources Facility at (850) 882-4164 or (850) 882-4165.
The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers many paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. For more information, go to: www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or Green Wave Forum at: www.clubkayak.com/greenwave
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
How to get there:
The put in is located on Eglin Reservation 5 miles north of Hwy. 20, in Niceville off SR 85.
I-10 Crestview Exit 56 Hwy 85 South 15 mi. Turn right 0.2 mi before 85-123 Y [N30 34.102 W86 31.773]. AFB 232 0.5 mi Canoe Launch bridge [N30 33.708 W86 32.178]. Continue 1.5 mi. Turn right AFB 233 1.5 mi to Hippie Hole bridge [N30 34.870 W86 34.473].
A good take out is on Boggy Bayou in Valpariaso at a small public park next to the cement plant on Hwy 20.

**Carol G** · 06-02-2009, 12:40 PM

Turkey Creek is the first creek I ever paddled, and I've been on it several times over the years - it is a lot of fun. Very peaceful, with a lot of opportunities to view birds & wildlife. The current is swift but never overpowering, there are some pretty narrow turns, and you have to keep your eyes open for spiders and snakes hanging from the low trees in some of the narrower parts - but that's probably a good idea anywhere you paddle around here.

Thanks for posting!

**Walton Outdoors** · 06-02-2009, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by WaterCourseWay

Turkey Creek is the first creek I ever paddled, and I've been on it several times over the years - it is a lot of fun. Very peaceful, with a lot of opportunities to view birds & wildlife. The current is swift but never overpowering, there are some pretty narrow turns, and you have to keep your eyes open for spiders and snakes hanging from the low trees in some of the narrower parts - but that's probably a good idea anywhere you paddle around here.

Thanks for posting!

Didn't see any snakes on this particular trip... but did see spiders and many webs draped webs across the creek from tree to tree with tiny pale pink moths caught in their webbing. It almost looked decorative, as the sunlight shone through the wings of the moths.

**jtnkelly** · 06-05-2009, 10:06 AM

Are there gators on these clear creeks?

**beachmouse** · 06-05-2009, 10:38 AM

Very much so, though the population densities aren't as high as what you get further south. There's a guy at work who paddles Eglin creeks all the time, and he sees a fair number of them, though there are long stretches of creek where they never seem to show up and it's reasonably safe to swim.

**Carol G** · 06-05-2009, 11:48 AM

I always paddle the creeks on Eglin with my brother, and he always paddles much faster than I do, so I frequently hear him yell out "gator" but by the time I catch up it's long gone. I have yet to see one in the wild.

Seems to me that they want to get away from us as much as we want to get away from them. I swim in the creeks in areas where it is clear and open with a sandy bottom and shore, and have never been bothered.

**OnLakePowell** · 06-09-2009, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Walton Outdoors

Swift and clear, Turkey Creek brings lots of paddling action. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

Turkey Creek paddle full of beautiful surprises

Located on Eglin AFB Reservation, just off of SR 85, the Turkey Creek paddle is approximately 9 miles long.
Swift and clear, the first two thirds of the paddle is tight, as the creek is only about 25 ft. wide, full of logs and sandy, shallow bottoms. Trees hang over the water, providing good shade and cool water for the journey.
About 5 miles into the paddle, Turkey Creek joins with Juniper Creek where it widens, and eventually empties into Boggy Bayou in Valparaiso, just west of Niceville.

Floating through the tunnel on Turkey Creek. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

This paddle will bring also bring you under a few bridges and a double tunnel that at one time supported railway tracks. There is a bit of a rapid as the creek forces into the narrow tunnels, providing a fun place to stop, get out and float through.
Before you get to Boggy Bayou, you will pass through the Turkey Creek Recreation area. There are several swimming spots used by locals in this area cooling off on a warm day.
Paddling Turkey Creek requires a permit from Eglin AFB. You can acquire one by calling the Jackson Guard Natural Resources Facility at (850) 882-4164 or (850) 882-4165.
The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers many paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. For more information, go to: www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or Green Wave Forum at: www.clubkayak.com/greenwave
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
How to get there:
The put in is located on Eglin Reservation 5 miles north of Hwy. 20, in Niceville off SR 85.
I-10 Crestview Exit 56 Hwy 85 South 15 mi. Turn right 0.2 mi before 85-123 Y [N30 34.102 W86 31.773]. AFB 232 0.5 mi Canoe Launch bridge [N30 33.708 W86 32.178]. Continue 1.5 mi. Turn right AFB 233 1.5 mi to Hippie Hole bridge [N30 34.870 W86 34.473].
A good take out is on Boggy Bayou in Valpariaso at a small public park next to the cement plant on Hwy 20.

Too add...no beer at the Hippie Hole...$100 fine per person. If you take kids, keep your eyes open, there are snakes and big ones. And you are not suppose to kill the snakes. There are gators, bears, deer, wild boar, and other interesting critters to see. But if you are making noise, you will see only the snakes. To go the 9 miles it will take awhile. The "tunnel" is a trestle that used to be for the train (as stated)...if you get turned over in the"tunnel" do not put you feet down...there are 2 huge concrete blocks to slow the flow of the creek in under the water. You mainly steer your way down the creek. The water is pretty much shallow with deep holes every so often. Watch out for the locals...they eat kids!